NORTHEAST WISCONSIN (NBC 26) -- After being hit hard by the pandemic volunteerism started to get back on track this summer. But now, as cases climb again, many non-profits are having a hard time staffing some of their biggest events.
At the Volunteer Center of Brown County, organizers help staff some of northeast Wisconsin's biggest fundraisers and events.
"It's usually around ten to twelve thousand volunteers that we place throughout the course of the year with those organizations," says Executive Director Eric Sponholtz.
Sponholtz says right now though, the number of volunteers they're used to having is down.
"When we heard about the variants and different types of things going on, it really kind of fell back into where we were at the start of the pandemic."
From Green Bay's Artstreet event, Manitowoc's Sputnikfest, and even the Red Cross making efforts to try and fill volunteer roles for disaster relief; everyone seems to be struggling to fill some of the volunteerism gaps. The Community First Fox Cities Marathon's Race Director says they too are still filling roles for their September event.
"It takes a village to be able to bring together this whole marathon," says Race Director Tara Perre.
Perre has 30 days until they kick off their marathon, a community event that has raised over a million dollars for local organizations. But, to get the job done they'll need over two thousand volunteers.
"We cover about seven communities, so we need those people out on the course helping guide everyone and just cheering them on and having a great experience," says Perre.
Perre says finding volunteers is a bit more challenging this year. But she's confident that their outdoor event will draw in the help needed to get the job done for the community and their athletes.
"All it takes is that one volunteer to cheer them on and give them that boost of energy to go," says Perre.
